Automatic circuit-closer for electric fire-alarms



(No Model.) J. O. WELLS.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC FIRE ALARMS. No. 277,965. Patented May 22,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE 0. wELLs, or n Es-MomEs,'1owA.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARMS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 277,965, dated May 22, 1883u Application filed J'anuary 29,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, JEssE O. WELLs, of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Automatic Circuit- Oloser for Electric Fire-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of myinventi'on is to savelifeand property from fire by providing a means for automatically closing the circuit in an electric fire-alarm as required to ring a bell or series of bells when a fire originates and the temperature rises in any part of a building in which wires are located for electric-alarm purposes.

It consists in combining an auxiliary metal springwith the armature of a push-button circuit-closer and insulating it by means of ,fusible matter, as hereinafter fully set forth, in such a manner that when the temperature rises sufficiently to fuse the insulating material the. force of the auxiliary spring will be exerted to automatically perform the function of a pushbutton in closing the circuit as required to signal and alarm by ringing a bell in an office or station, or a series of bells located in a corresponding series OfIOOlllS or stations in a building.

Figure l of my accompanying drawings is a top "iew of the uncovered base of a push-button to which my insulated auxiliary spring is attached. Fig. 2 is a top View of the cover. Fig. 3 is a half-section of a complete push-button and circuit-closer having my auxiliary insulated spring attached. Together these figures clearly illustrate the construction and operation of my complete invention.

n. represents the wooden base of a push-button of common form.

b is a raised center, that has a screw-thread on its periphery.

c is a curved metal plate, fastened on top of the raised portion 1) in such a manner that it will extend from its circumference to the center.

d is a metal spring-plate, fixed on the opposite side of the center of the same raised surface i) in such a manner and position relative to the plate 0 that the free end of the spring will in its normal condition extend over the inner end of the plate 0, and overlap and engage it when pressed down by means of the button placed on top of it.

' Nos. 1 and 2 representwires connected with,

the armature-plates c and d by means of pins f, that extend through the base a, and are fixed to the armature-plates, or in any suitable way.

9 representsmy auxiliary metal spring, fixed on top of the base I) and plate or spring cl by means of screws, or in any suitable way. may be made of wire or sheet metal, and vary in form '5- but it is essential that its freeend g extend over the outer position or end of the fixed armature-plate c in such a manner-that it will, in its normal condition, press upon the plate 0 and form a connection between the two plates 0 and d and the two wires Nos. 1 and 2, as required to establish an electric circuit.

h represents a piece of wax or other suitable matter that will fuse at a low degree of heat and that is a non-conductor, placed between the plate 0 and the free end of my auxiliary spring to retain it elevated and insulated.

k is a cup-shaped cover, adapted to fit upon and screw fast to the base a b in a common Way.

3, 4, and 5 represent perforations through the cover, to allow heattoenter and melt the wax h.

6 is an opening in the center of the cover. through which a button, m, projects upward from the free end of the spring d, upon which the bottom of the button rests.

In the practical operation of my improved circuit-closer the complete push-button is applied in a common way and operated at pleasure by simply pressing upon the button m to close the electric circuit for the purpose of making a call-signal or to give an alarm; and \VhQUGTBi a fire occurs close enough to the button to cause the wax or insulating material It to fuse, my auxiliary spring and circuit-closer will assume its normal position and form a connection with the plate cand establish a circuit between the two plates 0 and d and the wires Nos. land 2, to automatically perform the function of an operator in giving an alarm when the occupants of the room or building may be asleep or absent.

1 am aware that easily-fusible alloys have been combined with electric fire-alarms and circuit-closers in such a manner that a rise of temperature caused by fire would melt the fusible matter, and thereby connect or break electric circuits to automatically operate alarm mechanisms. I am also aware that a bar composed of two metals has been coiledwithin and I claim as my invention- In a push-button circuit-closer, the combination of a plate, 0, having a conducting-pin f attached, a spring-plate, d, having a conducting-pin f attached, an auxiliary spring, 9, and a fusible insulator, 7:,substantially as shown and described, to operate in the manner set forth, for the purposes specified.

JESSE 0. \VELLS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS G. ORWIG, GEO. F. HENRY.

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